MANILA (UPDATED) - President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said the present Constitution must be overhauled because it allows corruption to thrive.

“Corruption is a very virulent thing that’s almost hard to stop because ang ating Constitution was really crafted to allow accountability to escape most of the time,” Duterte said in his speech during the Anti-Corruption Summit hosted by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).

The President said he wants the Philippines to have its new charter under his term which will incorporate provisions against corruption, adding he will step down once this is fulfilled.

“We craft a new constitution… Pati ako sasali, I will place my input there… It’s a dream but pagkatapos niyan, and when it is really a Constitution that would suit our way of life and correct the evil things there, I will tender my resignation. ‘Yan ang deal ko sa opposition, pati lahat tayo,” Duterte said.

“As long as we come up with a Constitution that would guarantee, first that the money of the people should go to serve the people. Okay ako,” he added.

Duterte also allayed fears he plans on clinging to power longer than the 6-year term the current charter allows him to with his proposal to amend it.

“It is not intended to give me dictatorial powers. Constrict it if you want,” Duterte said in his speech during the Philippine Construction Convention, also held at the PICC.

There had been proposals in previous administrations to revise the Constitution but these were met with opposition due to fears the sitting President would use them to his or her advantage.

One of Duterte’s main campaign promises is to change the country’s type of government to federalism, saying it will solve the inequality prevailing under the current unitary setup.

Changing the country’s form of government entails changing the Constitution.